“This comes at an exciting time for Wrexham & Shropshire... By operating as part of the Chiltern Railways business, we will be able to serve additional stations such as Leamington Spa and will benefit from the single-minded commitment of one of the world’s most successful transport companies.”

On the WSMR website home page there is a drop down menu to select the start and end point for the intending passenger's journey.

Although the site clearly says that 'Journeys to and from London and Banbury are available' it is actually impossible to book Marylebone to Banbury (or v.v) using the WSMR website.

Meanwhile, Leamington Spa doesn't appear in the drop down menu at all.

Surprisingly though, you can book on the 07:29 Leamington to Marylebone WSMR service, but only via Chiltern's site.

Given they are both part of DB Regio this isn't exactly joined up.

UPDATE: This from Yokel...

Don't worry too much about on-line booking!

Us Yokels much prefer the civilised nature of being able to get on the train without a ticket, and to pay the manager when he comes round, and all without a penalty fare!

Again, don't worry about Leamington Spa, as it is only a recent addition to the itinerary.

Quite a shame really, because when W&S trains had to pass through, it was a rare chance to travel on the centre roads at Leamington that now seem to have reverted to their empty stock and freight only use.

Whatever happened to the non-stop London to Birmingham express trains that would thunder through the centre lines of every station in between? Oh, Dr Beeching, and "rationalisation".

(LNWN) At 1726 the driver of 1M98, EA, 1611 Edinburgh Waverley - Manchester Airport, reported that CE483 signal on the Up Main line at Carlisle Kingmoor had reverted from green to red as the train approached. The driver was unable to stop and passed the signal at red. The driver was fit to continue. It was confirmed by the Signalling Shift Manager at Carlisle PSB that a momentary remote systems failure had occurred at the time at Carlisle Kingmoor. The S&T team attended, and upon arrival at Kingmoor Relay Room discovered a cat climbing over the racks which house the TDM equipment, and which may have been responsible for the momentary failure.The cat was removed to a place of safety, and it was also reported that the roof of the Relay Room was leaking and the floor flooded, although not affecting equipment, the Property Action Line advised.TRUST 740862 IQRO = 5 trains = 28 mins. Fault No.450842. CCIL 523594.There was also disruption on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line just before mid-day today - due to a fox on the line at Warren Street.

UPDATE: This from 'Is 1A03 out of Chester yet, Bert?' with a bowler tip to Messrs Kitchener and Ford...

Metro had a similar story on the 8th December last year - here suitably captioned.

Meanwhile the new Thameslink train procurement could be linked to politics. It may be coincidence, but DfT Rail has set a deadline of 25 March to choose the supplier. If the General Election is held on 6 May, 25 March marks the start of the six weeks of ‘purdah’, during which the Government can’t make major announcements.